England coach Martin Johnson wants cup final mentality for Springboks Test
England coach Martin Johnson has warned his team that they must treat their Test with South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday 27 November as a cup final.
England defeated Samoa in their last test and they have already recorded an emphatic 35-18 win over Australia during the Autumn Internationals. "Against Australia we took the lead and then kept our foot on the pedal. Last week our guys' intensity was a few
per cent off and they have to be able to raise that, whoever they are playing,” Johnson told reporters.
South Africa are under pressure to win against England after they were defeated 21-17 by Scotland, and Johnson feels they will be extremely motivated.
As a result, the English coach warned his side that they had to show the same type of form as they did against the Wallabies. "Every Test is a cup final. There are not little Test matches. It is balls-out from the start to the end. If you are smart, accurate
and disciplined then you have a chance to win. That is what we need to get to.”
England will be looking to claim their first win against South Africa since 2006 and Johnson stated that his team will have to increase their intensity if they are to win. "We know we will have to play at a very high level. It will be very physical, intense
and a great Test match. Everyone is looking forward to a full-blooded Test match at Twickenham," he said.
The England coach believes both teams will be up for the match. England will be aiming to end their losing streak to the Springboks, while South Africa will hope to return to winning ways after a poor defeat to Scotland. "It is going to be a big, big game.
It is a cracking game to be involved in whenever you play South Africa. You know what you are going to get in terms of intensity.
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